INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP
CREATING SEDUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.

From the moment he laid eyes on the Jaguar XJ6 when he was 14, Ian Callum knew he’d found his dream job. Inspired, he sent some sketches to the then Chief Engineer, Bill Heynes, who encouraged him to follow his heart.

Early on, American cars had a big influence on him. “I recognised the design in them, almost the exaggeration of design. They were definitely more expressive, and in my mind, America was extremely glamorous… The ’65 Buick Riviera was my favorite. And it didn’t come from seeing the cars – it came from not being able to see them.”

Ian studied at the Glasgow School of Art before taking a Masters in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art in London. His talents had already been noted by Ford and for 12 years he was involved in designing some of the company’s best-loved cars before joining TWR, where he took on high-profile projects for the likes of Aston Martin (the DB7, Vanquish and DB9), Ford Puma, Volvo C70 and Nissan R390.

Then, in 1999, Ian got the call he’d been waiting for all his life: the chance to be Director of Design for Jaguar.

His understanding of, and respect for, the brand’s creators is clear in the cars he and his team have created. “We know how intently our predecessors pushed the boundaries of design and technology. Jaguar has always been a forward thinking company and that philosophy informs the work we do to this day.”

This is clearly demonstrated by Ian’s work on the transformation of the range with award-winning designs for the XK, XF and XJ, and now with the new F-TYPE.

“Jaguars are about great proportions, fantastic silhouettes…the optimum expression of metal…I’ve always believed any good design can be drawn in two or three lines.”

You might think that successfully designing new Jaguars might be hindered by the weight of heritage and previous successes. Ian isn’t phased: “My point of judgment is always: what would Sir William Lyons think of this? And I honestly think he’d approve, hugely.”

Not content to rest on his laurels, Ian leads a talented team who are working every day to perfect the Jaguar of the future. Ask him which car he’s most proud of, his answer is simple: “The next one!”

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